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Utah Prepares For New Mexico
2/4/2001 12:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 4, 2001
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The Utes are 12-9 overall and in third place in Mountain West Conference with a 4-3 record. After losing three consecutive league games on the road, Utah got a 63-58 win over Air Force in the Jon M. Huntsman Center on Saturday night. Before that win, the Utes suffered a 78-77 overtime loss at Wyoming on Jan. 20, a 73-65 defeat at Colorado State on Jan. 22 and a 69-61 loss at Brigham Young last Monday.
Utah has five players averaging eight points per game or better, with one in double figures. Junior guard Kevin Bradley, coming off the bench the past nine games, leads the team in scoring (10.4 ppg), shooting 40.0 percent from three-point range. He is also third on the team in assists (2.1 apg). Junior forward Phil Cullen is second in scoring (9.0 ppg), shooting 36.8 percent from three-point range, and is first in rebounding (5.0 rpg). Senior center Nate Althoff is third in scoring (8.9 ppg). Junior guard/forward Jeff Johnsen is fourth in scoring (8.8 ppg), shooting 39.5 percent from behind the arc and 78.8 percent from the line. Sophomore forward Britton Johnsen is the fifth-best scorer on the team (8.6 ppg), shooting a team-best 51.6 percent from three-point range. Junior Travis Spivey, who has started the last nine games at point guard, is averaging a team-best 3.1 assists per game. Junior forward/center Chris Burgess, who is expected to be out until at least late February after fracturing his left ankle against San Diego State on Jan. 15, still leads the team in rebounding average (5.5 rpg) and blocked shots (16).
Utah returned just one starter and three other letterwinners from last season, as well as two return missionaries who played on the 1998 Final Four team. Utah went 23-9 overall, advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and tied for the inaugural Mountain West Conference championship with a 10-4 record in 1999-2000.
After This
Next weekend, the Utes hit the road to take on San Diego State on Saturday (Feb. 10) at 7:07 p.m. (PST) in San Diego, Calif., and UNLV on Monday (Feb. 12) at 9:05 p.m. (PST) in Las Vegas, Nev.
Majerus Takes Medical Leave for Rest of the Season
Rick Majerus announced on Jan. 9 he was leaving the team for the rest of the season to be with his cancer-stricken mother and recover from his own health problems. Majerus underwent a coronary angiography and stenting of two coronary artery branches on Jan. 2. He had a follow-up procedure performed on Jan. 3. Doctors reported that both procedures went very well. Prior to that, Majerus had been away from the team for seven weeks while undergoing rehabilitation from late-September arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. He had anticipated to rejoin the team on Jan. 1 before admitting himself to the hospital with chest pains. Majerus is planning to return to coaching for the 2001-02 season.
Hunsaker Directing the Utes
Dick Hunsaker, in his third year at Utah, is serving as the acting head coach in the absence of Rick Majerus. His record as Utah's acting head coach is 11-9, directing the team since the second game of the season.
Hunsaker was the associate head coach under Majerus at Ball State from 1987-89. Hunsaker followed Majerus as the head coach at Ball State from 1989-93. He compiled a 97-33 record with the Cardinals, giving him the seventh-best four-year coaching record in NCAA history. During his stay in Muncie, Ind., Ball State made two trips to the NIT and two appearances in the NCAA Tournament. He led the Cardinals to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 1990. Hunsaker posted four 20-win seasons at BSU. His teams also captured two Mid-American Conference championships and placed second twice. Hunsaker has a 159-70 record in eight seasons as a college head coach or acting head coach.
Hunsaker came to Utah from Manchester College in North Manchester, Ind., where he had been the head coach since 1995. During his three years at Manchester, he posted a 51-27 record and led the Spartans to three of the 10 winningest seasons in the college?s 85-year history. He played college basketball one season for Hall of Fame coach Don Haskins at UTEP (1972-73) and finished his career at Weber State (1974-77).
From the Training Room: Burgess Out Until Late February
Chris Burgess, a 6-10 junior forward/center, sustained a non-displaced avulsion fracture of his left ankle in the first half of the Utes' game against San Diego State on Jan.15. Burgess is expected to return the last week of February at the earliest.
An avulsion fracture occurs when the ligaments pull on their insertion into the bone, so that the bone is actually being pulled away from bone,? said team trainer Trevor Jameson. ?In Chris? case, the bone was not displaced from the bone, so surgery will not be necessary.?
Before suffering the injury, Burgess had started the last 12 games. The Irvine, Calif., native was sixth on the team in scoring at 7.0 points per game, reaching double figures seven times. He also led the Utes with 5.5 rebounds per game and 16 blocked shots. Burgess averaged 20.6 minutes per game and appeared in all 17 contests this season. He played just six minutes against San Diego State before stepping on the foot of an opposing player while jumping out to challenge a shot on the perimeter with 7:41 to play in the first half.
Burgess is in his first season of playing with the Utes. He sat out last year after transferring from Duke, where he played for two seasons. Nate Althoff left the court after banging his left knee with 9:31 to play in the second half against Air Force on Saturday. He is expected to play against New Mexico.
Scouting the Lobos
New Mexico is 13-6 overall and tied for fourth place in the Mountain West Conference with a 3-3 record. The Lobos suffered a 65-49 loss at Brigham Young on Saturday in Provo, Utah. Last weekend, UNM split two games at home, defeating Colorado State 72-71 in overtime on Saturday and losing to Wyoming 82-78 on Monday. New Mexico is 3-4 on the road this season.
Junior 6-3 guard Eric Chatfield is fifh in the Mountain West in scoring (15.9 ppg) and 17th in rebounding (4.6 rpg). Sophomore 6-2 guard Marlon Parmer leads the conference in assists (5.78 apg) and is 19th in scoring (10.6 ppg). Junior 6-3 guard Tim Lightfoot is third in the MWC in three-point percentage (.450) and is averaging 9.9 points per game. Senior 6-6 forward Wayland White is seventh in the league in rebounding (6.8 rpg).
The Lobos are tied for seventh in the conference in scoring (70.4 ppg), fifth in scoring defense (66.1 ppg) and fifth in rebound margin with an advantage of 36.4 to 35.7 rebounds per game.
Head Coach Fran Fraschilla
Fran Fraschilla is in his second year at New Mexico. He took a year off from coaching after directing St. John?s from 1996-98, leading the Red Storm to the NCAA Tournament in 1998. He was also the head coach at Manhattan from 1992-96. Fraschilla was named the NABC Coach of the Year in 1994-95 when he led Manhattan to its first-ever NCAA Tournament first round win and a 26-5 record.
Series Notes
Utah leads the overall series with New Mexico 67-36 and has a 44-5 advantage in games played in Salt Lake City. New Mexico has lost 10 straight to the Utes in Salt Lake City, not winning since getting a 79-76 triumph on Feb. 16, 1989.
The Utes have won 13 of the last 17 from the Lobos. Utah had won five in a row over UNM before falling 72-65 on Feb. 19 of last season in Albuquerque, N.M. The Utes took the first of the two meetings last season, winning 82-70 on Jan. 31 at the Huntsman Center.
Last Meeting
Damion Walker scored 21 points, Wayland White added 19 and New Mexico hit 13 of its first 17 shots in the second to beat No. 21 Utah 72-65 at The Pit in Albuquerque, N.M., on Feb. 19, 2000.
New Mexico, which trailed through most of the first half, used a 16-3 second-half run to put away the Utes. Long, who ended up with 17, scored seven points in the run, Walker had six and freshman point guard Marlon Parmer hit a three-pointer that swished through as the 35-second clock expired. That put the Lobos up 66-54 with 5:20 left, but Utah cut the deficit to six points on back-to-back three-pointers by Tony Harvey. Harvey had four three-pointers and 17 of his team-high 19 points in the second half. White pushed the lead up to 68-60 with a pair of free throws, and after Harvey connected for another three, Parmer hit a baseline jumper with 33.3 seconds left.
Nate Althoff scored eight of his 17 points in the first half and led the Utes to a 21-12 rebounding edge. When Althoff wasn?t scoring off second-chance rebounds, Alex Jensen?who scored 16?was roaming the perimeter and hitting 4-of-8 three-pointers. New Mexico shot 71 percent through the first 13 minutes of the second half.
Game #21 Rewind
Kevin Bradley scored 12 of his 15 points in the final 10:05 as Utah withstood a furious Air Force rally to win 63-58 on Saturday night at the Huntsman Center. Jeff Johnsen added 10 points for the Utes, who snapped their three-game losing streak and extended their national-best home conference winning streak to 41 games.
Jarvis Croff snapped out of a shooting slump with 17 points, including six in the last 1:34 of the game. Tom Bellairs added 14 points for the Falcons.
Utah (12-9 overall, 4-3 Mountain West Conference) seemed poised to close out the Falcons (6-15, 1-6 MWC) when Bradley hit two free throws to put Utah ahead 59-48 with 2:53 to play. But Croff hit a pair of three-pointers and added a steal in a 10-0 run that closed the gap to 59-58 with 23.6 remaining. Bradley answered with two more foul shots. A.J. Kuhle missed a long three-point attempt for Air Force and Travis Spivey sealed the win with two more free throws.
But Air Force had its chances in the game as the Falcons held Utah scoreless for 5:24 midway through the second half and drew within 41-38 on Robert Todd?s three-pointer with 10:30 to play. Then Utah's distinct height advantage was negated as Nate Althoff left the court after injuring his knee with 9:31 to play. So the Utes relied on their outside game as Bradley took over down the stretch. The 6-foot guard made all four of his field goal attempts, including two three-pointers in 19 minutes, to help keep Utah's conference title hopes alive.
Utah held the Falcons to just two field goals for the first 8:39 of the game and jumped out to a 17-6 lead. But Air Force battled back and trailed 29-24 after Croff?s three-pointer just before halftime. Utah outshot Air Force 45.7 to 42.9 percent from the floor and had a 31 to 21 advantage on the glass. However, the Falcons made 10-of-22 from behind the three-point arc to Utah's 5-of-15 effort.
The Nation's Most Dominant Team in League Play at Home
The Utes have won 41 consecutive league games at home, which is the nation?s longest current streak. Utah's last home conference loss was to Fresno State (65-64) on Jan. 8, 1996. Utah is the nation?s most dominant team in conference home games the past seven years with a 50-1 (.980) record. Against those teams now forming the Mountain West Conference, Utah has won 37 in a row at home dating back to a 71-70 loss to Colorado State on Jan. 27, 1994.
Streaky Start To Conference Play
After winning its first three Mountain West Conference games at home, Utah dropped its next three games on the road. Utah halted the skid with a 63-58 win over Air Force at home on Saturday night. The Utes have dropped three consecutive games twice this season.
Utah's 3-3 Mountain West record through six games marked its worst conference start since the 1993-94 season when the Utes started 3-3 in the Western Athletic Conference. After its 3-3 start that season, Utah went on to lose its next two to fall to 3-5 before finishing 8-10.
The 1993-94 season is also the last time the Utes dropped three consecutive games in league play, when it happened twice. The Utes fell at Hawaii on Jan. 20 (72-56), at San Diego State on Jan. 22 (76-73) and to Colorado State at home on Jan. 27 (71-70). The second time around, Utah fell at Fresno State on Feb. 17 (95-86), at Air Force on Feb. 19 (91-89 in OT) and at Brigham Young on Feb. 26 (73-70).
Utah had a four-game losing streak during the 1989-90 conference season from Jan. 13 through Jan. 25. That losing streak took place during Majerus? first lengthy absence from the Utah bench. Joe Cravens served as the acting head coach for 24 games that year while Majerus recovered from heart surgery.
Conference Road Woes
After winning three games at home to open its Mountain West Conference schedule, Utah dropped three consecutive games on the road. Utah kept its perfect conference home record intact with a win over Air Force on Saturday. Here?s a statistical breakdown of the Utes in MWC play this season at home and on the road.
Strength of Schedule
According to the CollegeRPI.com rankings computed by Jerry Palm as of Friday, Utah's strength of schedule ranked 12th out of 319 NCAA Division I schools. Utah was the only Mountain West Conference team in the top 50 in strength of schedule. The next two closest were New Mexico at 76th and Brigham Young at 104th. The Mountain West Conference had a 61-38 record in NCAA Division I nonconference games.
Utah's RPI was 69th. Mountain West Conference schools ranked ahead of Utah were New Mexico (51st), Wyoming (57th) and Brigham Young (64th). Five of Utah's losses have come to teams ranked in the top 60 in the RPI ratings through Friday. Georgia was eighth with a 13-8 record, followed by No. 21 Texas (16-5), No. 25 Southern California (14-5), No. 55 Utah State (14-3) and No. 57 Wyoming (13-4).
Close Calls In Defeat
A few bounces of the ball here or there, and Utah could have had a record far better than its 11-9 mark. Utah's nine losses have came by a combined 48 points for an average of 5.3 points per game. Utah suffered a pair of one-point losses at Utah State (58-57) on Dec. 6 and at Wyoming (78-77 in overtime) on Jan. 20 and a two-point loss at home (79-77) to Weber State on Dec. 9. The Utes also experienced two five-point setbacks to Georgia (Nov. 24) and USC (Dec. 2) by identical 65-60 scores on neutral courts. Utah's worst loss of the season was by an 11-point margin (70-59) at 25th-ranked Texas on Dec. 30.
In five of its nine losses, Utah had significant leads in the second half. The Utes led Georgia 55-36 with 12:13 to play, had a 52-48 lead over Utah State with 10:27 to go, a 56-50 cushion over Southern Utah with 10:46 remaining, a 53-50 advantage over Texas with 6:18 left and a 54-41 lead over Wyoming with 13:23 showing. Utah is 9-4 when it leads at the half and 11-3 when it leads with 5:00 remaining this season.
Utah's six losses in nonconference play is the most that it has had in the past 12 years. The last time the Utes went into league play with more than five losses was in 1988-89, the last season of Lynn Archibald?s tenure, when Utah went 9-6 through its pre-conference schedule. During the Majerus era, Utah has had a high mark of four losses before the start of conference play just twice, going 7-4 in 1989-90 (Majerus? first season) and 10-4 in 1998-99.
What the Utes Did Well in Early January Winning Streak
Winning four games in row before its loss at Wyoming on Jan. 20, Utah had won those contests by an average of 13.3 points, defeating Long Beach State (80-67) on Jan. 3, Wyoming (83-71) on Jan. 8, UNLV (79-70) on Jan 13 and San Diego State (58-39) on Jan. 15. Utah's success in early January can be attributed to two things: a sizeable advantage in free throw shooting and being in position to close out games.
The Utes had done a much better job of keeping their opponents off the line, while converting on their own opportunities. In the first 13 games of the season, Utah's opponents were averaging 24.0 free throw attempts, compared to just 13.5 attempts in the next four games. Meanwhile, Utah averaged 15.8 free throws made per game, shooting 76.8 percent. The Utes are 10-3 when they have had more free throw attempts than their opponents this season.
The Utes' inability to close out games attributed to a 3-5 record in December after letting second-half leads slip away to Utah State, Southern Utah and Texas. During its first four games in January, Utah was the team making plays down the stretch to secure victories. As a case in point, against UNLV on Jan. 13 with the score tied at 63 with 3:47 to play, Utah went on a 10-0 run over the next three minutes.
Getting to the Point
Junior point guard Travis Spivey, a transfer from Salt Lake Community College, has started the last nine games with fellow junior college transfer Kevin Bradley, the staring point guard for the first 12 games, coming off the bench at both guard positions. Freshman point guard Marc Jackson has also seen significant playing time as of late, averaging 9.7 minutes per game in conference play. The shake up in the line-up has resulted in improved productivity at point guard for the Utes.
In the last nine games, Spivey has had 34 assists to 16 turnovers (2.1:1 ratio).
Highlighting two of his better performances in conference play, Spivey had five assists with no turnovers, eight points and three rebounds in 28 minutes against Air Force on Feb. 3. Against UNLV on Jan. 13, Spivey had six assists, three turnovers, 10 points and two steals in 25 minutes.
Against Wyoming on Jan. 20, Utah's trio of ball-handlers combined for nine assists, three steals and four turnovers, as well as 16 rebounds. Spivey had a season-high seven assists and just two turnovers in 37 minutes.
Jackson had two of his better games of the season against Wyoming on Jan. 8 and San Diego State on Jan. 15. Jackson made 7-of-8 free throws with three rebounds, two assists and no turnovers in 12 minutes against the Cowboys. He had two points, three rebounds, three assists and no turnovers in 16 minutes against the Aztecs.
Utah turned the ball over a season-low eight times while getting 15 assists against San Diego State on Jan. 15.
Utah's generals had their best floor games of the season against Long Beach State on Jan. 3, combining for seven assists and no turnovers. It was the first time this season both Spivey and Bradley went turnover free. Their effort helped Utah commit nine turnovers, the second-lowest total this season. Entering the Long Beach State game, Utah was averaging 16.5 turnovers per game.
Britton and Nick Doubling Up
Two players in their second year in the program, sophomore forward Britton Johnsen and redshirt freshman guard Nick Jacobson, have been progressing nicely as Utah nears the midway point of the Mountain West schedule. Both are averaging in double figures in six Mountain West Conference games, with Johnsen leading the way (11.0 ppg) and Jacobson coming in second (10.0 ppg).
Johnsen has started 14 of the last 15 games. In the last nine games, has has scored in double figures six times?including two 20-point outbursts?and grabbed five boards or more five times. In MWC games, he averaging 5.1 rebounds and shooting 40.0 percent from three-point range.
Jacobson, who has started the last 14 contests, has scored in double figures in five of the last eight games. He had a career-high 14 points against both Long Beach State on Jan. 3 and Wyoming on Jan. 8. He is perfect from the free throw line in conference play, going 18-of-18.
Inside the Numbers
The Utes have utilized their depth this season. Utah's bench has been productive, outscoring its opponents bench by an average of 14.4 points per game. Nine players are averaging at least 11 minutes a game, while just one (Phil Cullen at 23.5) is averaging more than 23 minutes per contest this season.
The Utes have used seven different starting line-ups this season with eight different players starting at least one game. The last four games, Utah has gone with the quintet of Britton Johnsen (SF), Phil Cullen (PF), Nate Althoff (C), Travis Spivey (PG) and Nick Jacobson (SG), going 1-3. Before Spivey took over at the point the last nine games, Kevin Bradley had started the first 12 games. Althoff has taken over at center the last four games for Chris Burgess, who is injured.
Eight games into the season, Utah was shooting just 67.2 percent from the free throw line. Since then, the Utes have shot 73.1 percent (125-of-171) from the line. The Utes have helped their cause at the stripe by shooting above 80 percent in five of the last 13 games, going 39-for-48 (.813) against Washington State, 21-for-26 (.808) against Pepperdine, a season-best 87.5 percent (14-for-16) against both Long Beach State and UNLV (Jan. 13), and 7-of-8 (.875) against Colorado State (Jan. 22). Utah is now shooting 71.1 percent from the line on the season.
With 286 assists and 318 turnovers on the season, Utah has a 0.90 assists-turnover ratio and has averaged 15.1 turnovers a game. A team from the Rick Majerus era has never finished the season with less than a 1.0 assists-turnover ratio. Since the turnover stat was recorded beginning in 1975-76, the only Utah team to finish with less than a 1.0 assists-turnover ratio was the 1981-82 squad that had 404 assists to 419 turnovers (0.96).
The Utes have had success when they take care of the ball, going 9-1 when they commit fewer turnovers then their opponent this season.
Utah has held eight of its opponents to less than 60 points. American-Puerto Rico (37 points) and San Diego State on Jan. 15 (39 points) have been held below 40 points. Only seven teams have reached the 70-point barrier: Weber State (79), Southern Utah (77), Texas (70), Wyoming (71) on Jan. 8, UNLV (70) on Jan. 13, Wyoming (78 in overtime) on Jan. 20 and Colorado State (73) on Jan. 22.
Only two teams have shot better than 50 percent from the field against the Utes this season. Southern Utah connected on 53.3 percent of its shots (60.9 percent in the second half) and 66.7 percent (8-of-12) from three-point range, while Long Beach State shot 51.9 percent from the field. Utah's opponents have shot just 40.0 percent this season.
The Utes have been outrebounded just four times this season: 33-24 to Georgia, 33-27 to Memphis, 46-35 to Wyoming on Jan. 8 and 58-49 to Wyoming on Jan. 20. The Cowboys have the two highest rebound totals among Ute opponents this season.
Utah has been outrebounded just twice in its last 54 regular-season conference games. Both of which came at the hands of Wyoming this season.
Utah has shot 50 percent or better in eight games this season, winning five of those contests.
On Jan. 20 in an overtime showdown in Laramie, Wyo., Wyoming attempted 48 free throws, the most by a Utah opponent this season, while the U. connected on just 22-of-35 free throws (.629). The Utes committed a school record 38 fouls in the game.
With defeats to then-No. 15 Southern California on Dec. 2, Utah State on Dec. 6, and Weber State on Dec. 9, Utah lost three consecutive nonconference games for the first time during the Rick Majerus era. The skid ended with an 87-63 win over Washington State on Dec. 16. Utah's most recent nonconference losing streak of three games or more came in 1988-89, the final season under Lynn Archibald, when Utah dropped four consecutive games to Florida on Nov. 27 (77-68), Cal State-Fullerton on Dec. 1 (59-57), Santa Clara on Dec. 3 (66-60) and Colorado on Dec. 6 (68-65).
Boasting of Bradley
Junior 6-0 guard Kevin Bradley, a relatively unheralded transfer from Compton Community College, has raised some eyebrows with his solid play. Bradley started the first 12 games of the season and has continued to get significant playing time off the bench since then, averaging 22.4 minutes per game. He leads the team in scoring (10.4 ppg), shooting 42.9 percent from the field, 40.0 percent from three-point range and 75.5 percent from the free throw line. Bradley is also averaging 2.1 assists per game (third-best on the team). He has led Utah in scoring seven times and assists seven times.
Against Air Force on Saturday, Bradley scored in double figures for the 11th time this season with 15 points, making all of his shots from the field (four field goals and two three-pointers) and 5-of-7 free throws in 19 minutes. He had 19 points at Wyoming on Jan. 20, making a three-pointer to send the game into overtime and hitting 3-of-7 treys in the contest. Bradley also came up with a career-high nine rebounds. He had a team-high 13 points against UNLV on Jan. 13. Bradley had his best floor game of the season against Washington State on Dec. 16, getting five assists and one steal to just one turnover. He also had 12 points, making all six free throws and 3-of-7 field goals, in 31 minutes. His career-high game was 20 points against Cardinal Stritch on Nov. 28. He had 18 points against Southern Utah on Dec. 22
A native of Los Angeles, Bradley was named the conference player of the year as a senior at Crenshaw High School.
All in the Family
Utah has one of 11 brother combinations in NCAA Division I this season in Jeff and Britton Johnsen. Both of the Johnsens rank among the top five Utes statistically. Jeff (G/F, 6-4, 200), a junior, is fourth on the team in scoring (8.8 ppg), shooting a 39.5 percent from three-point range and 78.8 percent from the free throw line (second-best on the team). He is also averaging 3.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists (second-best on the team), and has led the team in scoring three times and assists eight times.
Britton (F, 6-9, 205), a sophomore, is fifth on the team in scoring (8.6 ppg), shooting a team-best 51.6 percent from behind the arc (16-of-31), and is tied for first in rebounds (5.0 rpg). He has also scored in double figures in nine of the last 15 games. Britton got a career-high 23 points, making 8-of-14 field goals and 4-of-6 three-pointers, with eight rebounds and three blocked shots in 27 minutes against Long Beach State on Jan. 3. He had 20 points and eight rebounds in 26 minutes against Colorado State on Jan. 22.
Jeff began his career at Utah in 1996-97 before going on a two-year LDS Church mission to Fresno, Calif. He averaged 5.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 32 games last season with five starts. Britton who resumes his Utah career this season, played for the Utes in 1997-98 before going on his LDS Church mission to Houston, Texas. He averaged 3.5 points and 1.0 rebounds in 21 games as a freshman.
The Johnsens, who hail from Murray, Utah, hadn?t played together for four years. The last season the Johnsens played together, they led Murray High School to the Utah 4A state title in 1996.
Rick Majerus has literally made his program a family affair at Utah. The Johnsens are the fifth set of brothers to play for Majerus spanning his 12-year career at the U. However, they are the first to play together.
Defense, Defense, Defense
One of the trademarks of a Utah team during the Rick Majerus era is a stifling half-court defense. In the past 11 seasons under Majerus, Utah has ranked in the top 30 in the nation eight times in field goal percentage defense, eight times in the top 25 in scoring defense, seven times in the top 25 in scoring margin and eight times in the top 30 in rebound margin.
This season, the Utes are giving up 62.0 points per game. Utah ranked 20th in the NCAA in scoring defense last season, giving up 61.8 points per game. The Utes are one of just eight teams to appear in the top 10 in the NCAA in scoring defense at least four times in the last 11 years. Utah is also one of just four teams to rank in the top 25 in the nation in scoring defense at least nine times in the last 11 years.
Utah has a 7.1 rebounds per game advantage over the opposition this season and ranked 12th in the NCAA as of Jan. 29. The Utes ranked 26th in the nation in rebound margin (4.8 rpg) last season and have been ranked been ranked among the top 30 teams in the nation in rebound margin in each of the last six years. Utah is one of just seven schools to rank in the top 10 at least three times in the last five years. Only Navy?s four appearances rank ahead of Utah.
Opponents have shot 40.4 percent from the field on the Utes this season. Utah is one of just eight schools to rank in the top 30 in the nation in field goal percentage defense four of the last five years. Utah has also been in the top 10 in the NCAA in field goal percentage defense four times during the Rick Majerus era.
Thanks to their stifling defense, the U. has also ranked among the top 25 teams in the nation in scoring margin four times in the last five years and seven times in the last 11 years. Utah has outscored its opponents by an average of 10.0 points per game this season. In the last five years, the Utes are one of just eight teams with four appearances in the top 25, bettered only by Cincinnati?s streak of five consecutive years. Utah is also one of just six teams to rank in the top 10 at least three times in the last five years.
Utes Dealing with Rare Occurrence of No Returning All-Conference Selections
For just the second time since Rick Majerus took over the Ute basketball program, Utah doesn?t feature a single returning all-conference selection on the roster.
Discounting Majerus? first season (1989-90), the only time the Utes haven?t returned a first or second team all-conference selection was in 1993-94. That season resulted in the only non-winning season of the Majerus era with Utah going 14-14 overall and 8-10 in the Western Athletic Conference.
In 1991-92, Josh Grant was back for his fourth season with the Utes as the reigning WAC Player of the Year and the only returning all-conference honoree on the roster. However, he took a medical redshirt after helping the Utes win the first three games of the season. Without their leader, Utah finished 24-11 overall and 9-7 in conference play.
Home (Not So) Sweet Home
Utah is 9-2 at home this season. The last time Utah lost two home games in the same season was in 1993-94, when it went 11-3 overall and 7-2 in league games in the Huntsman Center. Since then, Utah has posted two one-loss seasons in the JMHC, going 14-1 in 1995-96 and 13-1 in 1996-97, and four undefeated seasons.
The Utes have gone unbeaten seven times in the 32-year history of the Jon M. Huntsman Center. Six of those undefeated home seasons have come under Rick Majerus: 1990-91 (16-0), 1992-93 (15-0), 1994-95 (15-0), 1997-98 (13-0), 1998-99 (14-0) and 1999-2000 (17-0). The Utes are 163-14 (.921) in the Huntsman Center during the Majerus era (including the 10 games he has not coached this season) and have never lost back-to-back home games.
With a best-in the-nation 54-game homecourt winning streak through the first two home games of the season, Utah lost two of its next three in the Jon M. Huntsman Center. After a 79-77 loss to Weber State gave Utah its first home loss in nearly four years on Dec. 9, the Utes bounced back with an impressive 87-63 win over Washington State on Dec. 16. The Utes then dropped their second home game of the season to Southern Utah, 77-70, on Dec. 22. Before the loss to Weber State, Utah had won 94 of its last 96 games at home.
Classroom Champions
Nine members of the University of Utah men's basketball team were named to the 2000 fall semester academic honor roll. Three of those players earned further distinction by making the Dean?s List. Named to the Dean's List with 3.50 grade point averages or better were reserve Trace Caton with a 4.00 GPA, as well as walk-ons Greg Schow and Mike Walkenhorst. Making the honor roll with 3.00 GPAs or better were starters Nick Jacobson and Britton Johnsen, reserves Lance Allred, Jon Godfread and Mike Puzey, and walk-on Jonathan Taylor. During Rick Majerus' 12-year tenure at Utah, 26 players have made the honor roll a combined 130 times.
Utah Third Winningest Basketball School the Past Five Years
When it comes to basketball, the University of Utah has established itself among the nation?s elite in recent years. Combined, the Ute men?s and women?s programs went 248-64 the past five seasons for a .795 winning percentage, which ranks third-best in the country. Utah ranked behind Connecticut (.866) and Stanford (.796), and ahead of Duke (.787).
Utah's men and women swept the inaugural Mountain West Conference regular-season championships and advanced to the NCAA Tournament last season. The women also won the Mountain West Tournament championship, while the men made it to the second round of the NCAAs before falling to eventual national champion Michigan State. The Ute men went 137-29 under head coach Rick Majerus from 1995-2000,
Players Mentioned
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